On this map, devised by Hampton International and the Telegraph, you can locate the areas with the cheapest homes and the happiest residents, based on house price-to-income ratios and the Life Satisfaction Index from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

"Housing markets close to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) top the list as happiest and affordable places to live. Life in the country, a good view and not too many neighbours seem to be the secret formula to happiness," said Johnny Morris, head of residential research for Hamptons.

Where affordability meets happiness - the top 10

This graph shows the average house price for each area and the house price-to-income ratio ranked in the order of most happy and affordable.

Cumbria is home to two of the top three happiest and most affordable areas, Allerdale and Copeland.

Ribble Valley, second on the list, is the largest area in Lancashire and is one of the least densely populated areas in the country. Ribble Valley contains the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the historic town of Clitheroe.

"Picturesque countryside seems to be a defining feature for many areas of the top 10," said Mr Morris. "Staffordshire Moorlands is part of the Peak District, North Lincolnshire boasts the Humberhead Peatland National Nature Reserve and Stockton-on-Tees has the Portrack Marsh Nature Reserve, the last remaining wetland on the Lower Tees."

The ranking also included East Cambridgeshire. Homes in this area are still cheap compared to the many parts of the South East but people can travel to London or Cambridge and bank higher earnings before commuting back out to their house in the countryside.

Expensive but contented - the top 10

This graph shows the average house price for each area and the house price-to-income ratio.

Picturesque market towns in the South East dominate the list of the most expensive places with the happiest population.

For these well heeled areas such as Chichester, Winchester and Waverly the average two bed costs £330,000, three times the £110,000 average for the most affordable and happiest areas.

"It seems for the residents their investment is paying off though, with life satisfaction scores amongst the highest in the country," said Mr Morris.

The cathedral town of Chichester Photo: ALAMY

Skint and miserable - the top 10

This graph shows the average house price for each area and the house price-to-income ratio.

"City living seems to take its toll on happiness, six of 10 the least happy and most expensive areas are in London," said Mr Morris. Packed commuter trains from places, such as Guildford, can also been identified as a source of stress.

Commuters boarding a South West train Photo: Rex Features

How the map works

• Click on a local authority area to find out the average house price, the house price to income ratio (aka 'affordability') and the happiness ranking.

• The areas in which prices are most affordable and the residents the most happy, are marked in yellow.

• The ranking is based on the average house price as recorded by Countrywide - the largest estate agent in the UK - and the Office of National Statistics Life Satisfaction Index.

Note: The analysis takes into account affordability (based on house price to local income ratios) and the Office of National Statistics (ONS) Life Satisfaction Index.

The map has a larger weighting to life satisfaction to give more realistic locations, according to the Hamptons' research team. The variation between house price-to-income ratios in, say, London compared with Scotland is so stark that if the analysis does not lean towards happiness it will simply produce an affordability map.